University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA Scores Season-Best In 196.675-196.625 Win Over Oregon State
January 28, 2011 | Gymnastics
Jan. 28, 2011
Complete Results
Video: Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor
Ninth-ranked UCLA hit all 24 of its routines on Friday night to defeat seventh-ranked Oregon State with a season-high score of 196.675, edging the Beavers by .05 with a fourth rotation rally on the balance beam. The victory was UCLA's first in a dual meet this year.
The Bruins had 18 of 24 scores of 9.8 or higher and no score under 9.725. The team achieved season-highs on bars (49.275), beam (49.175) and floor (49.25) and surpassed its overall team season-high by .75. Four Bruin all-arounders scored above 39.0, with freshmen Olivia Courtney and Sydney Sawa recording matching marks of 39.225. Veterans Brittani McCullough and Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs each scored 39.4. McCullough and Sawa each scored career-highs in the all-around.
UCLA started the meet strong with a season-high mark on the uneven bars. McCullough and Sawa gave UCLA a pair of 9.825s to start. Courtney returned to the lineup with a career-best 9.85 routine that was highlighted by a stuck full-twisting double back dismount. Aisha Gerber tied her season-high with a 9.875, a score matched by Monique De La Torre. Hopfner-Hibbs anchored on bars and scored a season-best 9.85, giving the Bruins a 49.275-48.975 lead after one event.
The Bruins lost their lead in rotation two after scoring 48.975 on vault while the Beavers, ranked No. 2 in the nation on bars, scored 49.475 on the event. Sawa led off with a 9.725, followed by a 9.775 by McCullough and 9.75 by Gerber. Hopfner-Hibbs celebrated her return to the vault lineup with a stuck vault and scored 9.825. Tauny Frattone recorded a 9.85, and Courtney closed the rotation with a 9.775.
Down two-tenths at the halfway point (98.45-98.25), the Bruins moved to floor for the third rotation. Frattone started off with a 9.775, followed by a 9.825 by Niki Tom and 9.8 from Courtney. Sawa kept things going with a season-high-tying 9.85, and Hopfner-Hibbs added a 9.875. McCullough finished the Bruins' successful floor venture with a 9.9 after nailing her piked full-in opening tumbling pass and hitting her double pike dismount. UCLA's team score of 49.25 tied its season-high and allowed the Bruins to pull to within .05 (147.55-147.50) of the Beavers, who scored 49.1 on beam.
The Bruins had to try to make up that half a tenth on what has been their nemesis this season, the balance beam. Gerber gave the Bruins a great leadoff routine and received a 9.75. Tom followed with a 9.8. Sawa had another hit routine, earning 9.825. Courtney contributed a 9.8, and McCullough ensured five hit beam routines with a career-high tying and meet-best 9.9. Hopfner-Hibbs' anchor score of 9.85 pushed UCLA past Oregon State and gave the Bruins their first 24-for-24 meet of the year.
UCLA, now 6-4 on the year, will meet up with Oregon State and Stanford once again on Feb. 11 at the IGI/Chicago Style Classic.
